CPS to make district changes for 25-26 school year

Cincinnati’s Board of Education has approved a variety of changes that will affect where many grade school and middle school students attend classes starting with 2025-2026 school year.

The changes, dubbed Phase 2 of Cincinnati Public Schools’ ongoing growth plan, will affect numerous schools across the East, Central and West corridors. Among the adjustments are shifting the boundaries for Winton Hills Academy and Mt. Airy School to include the Pleasant Hill and College Hill areas.

In a statement, Superintendent Shauna Murphy described the plan as an attempt to improve equity, accessibility and operational efficiency across the 91-square-mile district.

All of the upcoming changes are outlined below. Questions should go to CPS.

“With the board’s direction, CPS is ready to implement the vision voted on at last evening’s meeting,” Murphy said following the Dec. 9 meeting. “We are well-positioned to continue to optimize our operations, support the kids and families we serve and our educators. My team is ready to make these much-needed changes.”

District changes for 25-26

EAST CORRIDOR

• Withrow: 9th to 12th; 7th and 8th to Evanston
• Evanston (Withrow Junior High): 7th and 8th; pre-K to 5th go to Frederick Douglas; 6th to South Avondale
• South Avondale (South Avondale Middle School): 6th to 8th; current 6th and 6th from Evanston; K to 5th to Rockdale

CENTRAL CORRIDOR

• Hughes STEM: 9th to 12th; 7th and 8th to South Avondale
• Woodward Career Technical: 9th to 12th; 7th and 8th to South Avondale
• Frederick Douglas: PreK to 5th; 6th to South Avondale
• Rockdale: Pre-K to 5th; 6th to South Avondale
• Aiken: 9th to 12th; 7th and 8th to Pleasant Hill
• Pleasant Hill (Pleasant Hill Middle School): 6th to 8th; pre-K to 5th to College Hill
• College Hill: Pre-K to 5th; 6th to Pleasant Hill; pre-K to 5th from Pleasant Hill; remove magnet status
• Hartwell: 5th to 8th; 2nd to 4th to Carthage
• Carthage: Pre-K to 4th; students from Hartwell
• William H. Taft Elementary: K to 6th; remove magnet status (students will remain); becomes neighborhood Montessori (Central Corridor); pre-K goes to Rising Stars at Vine; start WRAP

WEST CORRIDOR

• Western Hills: 9th to 12th; 7th and 8th to Ethel Taylor
• Ethel M. Taylor (Western Hills Junior High): 7th and 8th; 7th and 8th graders from Western Hills; graduating 6th from Roll Hill; current students to Roll Hill
• Roll Hill: Pre-K to 6th; 6th go to Ethel Taylor; other Ethel Taylor students
• Leap: Expand to 7th this year and 8th the following year
• Sayler Park: Expand grades over time, including 9th next year
• Rothenberg: Pre-K to 6th (no change)
• Hays-Porter: Pre-K to 6th (no change)